Design Notes
February 11, 2025
AQW Housing Spotlight: Shadowfall Fortress by Garkoks Dran
A Home Fit for an Undead Overlord... with a Hoarding Problem
For 14 years, Garkoks Dran has been perfecting the ultimate lair – one that blends the eerie majesty of Shadowfall with the undeniable reality of a hero’s hoarding tendencies. This ever-evolving stronghold on the Artix Server has been built, rebuilt, and rebuilt again, proving that persistence… and maybe a touch of necromantic magic… truly pays off.
A Gift from Gravelyn… With Unexpected Consequences
The premise of Shadowfall Fortress is simple: after years of unwavering service to the forces of darkness, Gravelyn extended an invitation for Garkoks Dran to take up residence within Shadowfall. Oh wow, what an honor! However, no one—not even the Empress of the Shadowscythe herself—could have predicted just how much stuff one hero could amass.
Treasures? Check. Legendary artifacts? Check. Trophies from conquests across Lore? Check. An army of pets, ancient forbidden technologies, and enough furniture to clutter every possible space? Check, check, and check!
And yet, despite the fortress’s impressive gothic grandeur, there is one glaring oversight…
…
a single shower.
Just one shower?! For an entire undead stronghold!?! Oh the horrors – and the stench! 😱
The Trials of an Unyielding Architect
Building and maintaining a lair of this magnitude is no easy feat. Over the years, Garkoks Dran has painstakingly placed down hundreds of items, only to have to replace them again due to glitches, bugs, and the occasional unexpected house guest who just wouldn’t leave. Friends Only Plague, anyone?
Some of the rarest pieces have been collected using IODAs, with one elusive prize still missing: the Chairman Platinum statue. Even with a fortress this massive, house space is always an issue, as every new addition pushes the limits of what Shadowfall can hold.
And let’s not forget the mysterious floor-eating glitch in the Garden2 room, where items sometimes seem to vanish into the abyss. Here’s hoping that issue gets fixed before another precious relic disappears forever! 😳
Visit the Fortress… If You Dare
Garkoks Dran’s Shadowfall Fortress is a must-see for any player housing enthusiast or aspiring dark overlord. Whether you come for the eerie ambiance, the jaw-dropping decor, the floor-eating mysteries, the insane amount of gold,
or just to witness the sheer magnitude of loot-hoarding in action, this legendary lair is a testament to dedication, creativity, and an undying love for undead aesthetics.
So the next time you find yourself wandering the Artix Server, take a trip to Shadowfall Fortress… but be warned: there’s only one bathroom, and the line might be centuries long.*
Battle on!
Beleen, Garkoks Dran, and the AQW team
* Ladies! We certainly know all about those century-long lines waiting for the Women’s Restroom, don’t we 🤭

January 28, 2025
Sandsational Spotlight: the Djinn Palace by Enkanomiya
Djinn and Tonic
The Sandsea has always been a realm of wonder and intrigue in AQWorlds, with its alluring stories, breathtaking maps, the beloved Bupers Camel*, and, of course, the enigmatic Djinn. For Enkanomiya, the appeal of the Sandsea storyline and Crulon’s impeccable designs made choosing the floating Djinn Palace as their forever home a no-brainer. Built in 2018, this house isn’t just a place to hang out—it’s a full-blown immersion into a world of desert magic and hospitality.
The Djinn Palace on the Artix Server isn’t just stunning on the outside; the interior design is a testament to creativity and crazy attention to detail. After three days of meticulous decorating—and many hours of “does this look better here or there?”—Enkanomiya crafted a masterpiece featuring:
- A Shisha Room: Perfect for those chill weekend vibes under the moonlit sky.
- A Lounge Area: A cozy hangout spot for adventurers needing a breather from their quests.
- A Yulgar-inspired Inn: Complete with the Apophis Chantress serving up drinks to weary travelers.
And don’t forget the hidden surprises!
- If you go in through one of the golden doors, there just might be a giant sandsea dwelling crocodile waiting for you.
- Did you know that the moon changes phases within each room you enter of the Djinn Palace?
Oh wow, it’s these small, mystical touches that make this house feel—and look!—magical!
A Genie-us Touch
Enkanomiya’s Djinn Palace is a testament to the magic of the Sandsea and the endless creativity of our players. Whether you’re lounging under the stars, dodging crocodile encounters, or marveling at the shifting moon phases, the Djinn Palace is an oasis of imagination that never ceases to inspire!
So the next time you’re on the Artix server, swing on by this sandsational spot. Just don’t get lost in the sands of time 🕌🧞♀️🌙
Battle on!
Beleen, Enkanomiya, and the AQW team
* Do you know the story of the Bupers Camel? Here’s the DN post about it from 2011!

January 08, 2025
Housing Spotlight: The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure by Zenshin
A House Inspired by the Anime “Overlord”
It’s 2025, and y’all are already blowing our minds with your creativity! That being said, you have to check out Zenshin's creation, The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure on the Artix Server. It is soooo much more than just a house – it’s an actual experience! With inspiration taken from the infamous Great Tomb of Nazarick in the anime “Overlord,” this house brings dungeon-like exploration to AQWorlds. Every room in the house is meticulously designed, incorporating monsters, traps, and stories that unfold as you explore its dark halls. Whether it’s the terrifying Body of Despair or the elusive Throne Room, this house offers all players a deeply immersive adventure!
Overlord Overview: Concept and Design
The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure started as a tribute to Overlord, specifically the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Zenshin, a huge fan of the series, wanted to recreate the dungeon-like atmosphere of the anime, filled with powerful monsters and relentless NPCs. Every area in the fortress has its own backstory and purpose, creating a living world where visitors can feel the tension of wandering through a dangerous and mysterious place.
Seriously… have you ever seen a place like this before?!
Each room has been customized to enhance the feeling of dread and mystery. Zenshin cleverly uses house items to hide the usual game aesthetics, like arrows and NPC interaction bubbles, to create an anime-like atmosphere. The result is an amaaaaazing environment that feels more like an art piece than a house!
I’m going to let Zenshin take it from here and tell the tale of each and every room…
Area Name: Entrance of Despair
Description: This area is the entry to the castle.
Commentary: This area in the house is nothing special. I just put some items that I think would be best as guards outside. Still, these guards will put anyone into despair just facing them.
Area Name: Body of Despair
Description: An area full of monsters that will rip any intruder that enters the area into shreds.
Commentary: This room is one of the rooms that is difficult to put some non-guard/guest house items on, evident by that unnatural placement of that stone on the pavement.
Area Name: First Room — Lascivia's Domain
Description: After defeating Lascivia, Zenshin copied its soul and turned it into a Room Guardian.
Commentary: One thing I love about this room is the Ebil Corp Jack Sprat Guard that looks like the Death Knights in Overlord. I originally wanted to put a bunch of them for each side, but placements looked unnatural so I decided to just put 3 on each side.
Area Name: 2nd Room — Titan's Garden
Description: An area of infinite space that will trap anyone for eternity and will have to face the Titans guarding the area.
Commentary: This is one of the trap rooms I mentioned above. I didn't like the separation of customizers in this house so I decided to transform them into trap rooms.
Area Name: 4th Room — Leanan's Domain
Description: A beautiful room with a gorgeous guardian. This room can continuously spawn Overdriven Energy Elementals.
Commentary: This room is incomplete and will definitely undergo some changes in the future.
Area Name: 5th Room - The Blood Garden
Description: A room that insta-kills any living things. Any living intruders who enter this area will have their blood sucked dry by the guardians and blood butterflies. This is also a room with infinite space.
Commentary: The second trap room. I love the idea of putting trap rooms in my house. Of course, The Great Tomb of Nazarick also has traps inside.
Area Name: 6th Room — Training Room
Description: The place where Zenshin's subordinates train to level up and acquire new class skill or racial skill.
Commentary: This is one of the areas in the house that I don't want to change very much from its original design.
Area Name: 7th Room — Treasury
Description: A room full of gold. A decoy room for greedy intruders.
Commentary: The easiest room for me since I didn't have to think very much for the placements of the gold items. Also, I could've used Dragons as guard to follow those fiction tropes of Dragons guarding treasures; I went with guards with no hands anyway so they don't accidentally use the infinity gauntlet 😏.
Area Name: 8th Room — Unbalanced Monsters
Description: The Final line of defense against intruders before the Throne Room and reach the players.
Commentary: My 2nd fav room and 2nd most difficult room to make. The inspiration of my house is what made this room difficult. I wanted this room of the house to be the 8th room and I will not have it in any other room — this was on my mind when I built the Throne Room, which is the room next to it. It was difficult for me to look for items to cover the statue of Sepulchure and the undead guards because I've used all my pillar items. I wanted to place the monsters in a way that looks natural to go with the background.
The 8th room is my version of the 8th floor of Nazarick — that's why I bothered numbering the rooms. The monsters residing on the 8th floor of Nazarick are one of Overlord's biggest mysteries. The 8th floor is the strongest and final line of defense of Nazarick, the monsters on that floor are said to be able to rival and beat the strongest NPC created by the guild Ainz Ooal Gown. And that is why I made sure the monsters I put in this room scream POWERFUL.
Area Name: Throne Room
Description: The Players' Area.
Commentary: My fav room and most difficult room to design. Just like the 8th room, this is the room that I don't want to have in any other room. The room it resides in is the perfect place. The throne room in Nazarick is on the Final Floor, so I also want my throne room in the Final hidden room. It's the perfect place after the Treasury and 8th floor.
What made this room difficult to make is how it won't allow me to place the items the way I want. There were so many trials and errors, I didn't even want to touch one part of the design after finishing it. A great example is how I couldn't put 3 midnight pillars close together side by side without glitching. Every time I move some items, it moves on its own, so I was only able to place 2 midnight pillars together.
And although this room is my favorite room, this room is not complete yet. I'm planning to remove the two Sky Obelisk items and replace them with better pillar items in the future. I really hope they turn Dark Marble Column in the Floor Item shop into stackable.
All Hail Zenshin, the Overlord Architect!
As you can *clearly* see, The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure is a masterclass in house design, blending Overlord-inspired lore with intricate dungeon mechanics. Each room tells its own story, from the despair-filled halls to the final line of defense before the Throne Room. Zenshin’s dedication to detail is evident in every corner of the fortress (and commentary, too!), creating an unforgettable experience for players and visitors alike. It’s crazy to think that this house is STILL evolving, and yet it stands as a shining example of how creative AQW houses can be. And ofc how creative our amazing players are :)
Head on over to the Artix server and be sure to visit this incredible fortress at /house Zenshin —just be prepared for the insanity that hides inside!
Battle on!
Beleen, Zenshin, and the AQW team
PS: Think your house can top this? Prove it by submitting your housing creation here or on Discord!

December 05, 2024
Player Housing Spotlight: Golden Pirate Ship by Yecguanchuy
A House Worth its Weight in Gold
Sail on over to the Gravelyn server, where Yecguanchuy’s Golden Pirate Ship shines like a treasure trove waiting to be discovered! Built in 2023, this magnificent creation is inspired by two passions: the allure of gold and the grandeur of One Piece. Specifically, it draws inspiration from the Gran Tesoro, the giant golden ship from One Piece Film: Gold.
With dazzling decor and a literal rich design, the house embodies a love for wealth, adventure, and interior decorating prowess! Every corner of Yecguanchuy’s house is carefully curated with gold-themed items, blending AC purchases, free treasures, and even Member-exclusive decorations.
But what makes this house so unique? Its immersive design invites players into an ~actual~ maze of wealth and mystery! Visitors are encouraged to explore the shining halls, however… navigating its secrets is no easy task. The third and fourth rooms, cleverly blocked by golden decor, create a playful puzzle for anyone daring enough to escape.
"Everyone is welcome to explore my gold," Yecguanchuy proclaims, "but few will be able to leave it, hahaha!"
Space constraints add to the intrigue, as the limited area forces creative decorating choices. Every inch of the Golden Pirate Ship serves a purpose, transforming it into a dynamic and visually striking home.
The Treasure Trove Worth Visiting
If you’re a fan of opulence, adventure, or simply love uncovering secrets, Yecguanchuy’s Golden Pirate Ship is a must-visit. Dive into a world inspired by One Piece dripping in gold! Test your wit, explore the treasure, and maybe… just maybe… find your way out.
Will you uncover the secrets of the Golden Pirate Ship, or will you remain lost in its glittering halls? Only the boldest heroes will know! And remember: despite all the riches and treasures, the richest treasure ~is~ the adventure!
Set sail for the Golden Pirate Ship on the Gravelyn server and visit Yecguanchuy’s house today!
Battle on!
Beleen, Yecguanchuy, and the AQW crew
PS: Think your home has what it takes to shine in the Housing Spotlight? Whether it's humble, huge, or hilarious, we want to see it! Click here for all the deets on how to enter.
